After keeping fresh water tanks for years I set up my first sw tank. Only 90ls but already loving it, got a free hermit crab with my live rock and he's already shed his shell, how do you know when to add larger shells to the tank ? Just added some dominos to help cycle. Also when can I add corals and anemones?
First salt tank
- Thread starter follen
- Start date
wait until its completely cycled. I wouldn't add any corals, anemones, or fish until everything is stable just because you have such a small water volume which is less forgiving. One last thing, add them slowly (over the course of weeks or months) don't put them in all at once.
Yes wait at least 6 months before you put any corals in and then you can but some cheap leathers in. Then in the months that follow you can add some sps etc. slowly. Be sure to have the best lights you can offord. I only use LED's now my corals growing great under them.
Sorry but that's a load of crap. I had corals in my nano (12 gallons) tank as soon as the cycle was finished as well as what many people consider sensitive and delicate decorative shrimp.
Why not just run a set of t5 10,000? They have the highest par rating and will give the best growth when combined with the right flow, supplements, and food. Does it not make sense to get as close to the Suns natural color as possible? Yes plasma lighting would be better but I doubt op will be wanting to do many crazy things with this tank.
Keep in mind coral growth is roughly 75% photosynthesis and 25% from zooplankton.
Get rid of those damsels and just use a deli shrimp to cycle the tank. Also the damsels will get quite territorial and harass any new fish added.
You Have Nano tank he's got a 90 larger amount of water longer mature time. Your t5 yes for 5 gal. of water deeper tank wider etc. more power. I have a 210 reef that's been up a running for 12 yrs and a75 for two years. my first was 90 I started in 82 no LEDS metal halides in t5 new models of LEDS are it in my book. But each to he's own. I thought this site was for monster fish. do you have any. I raise 6,000 tilapia annually have two 400 gal. fresh water tanks with aero's large cats stc.
His tank is a 23 gallon.
As for monsters yes I do I have an aquaponics system I'm using for rays, I have a quarter acre pond I'm using to produce channel catfish, as well as starting a discus breeding project along with a multitude of other smaller breeding tanks and misfit community tanks of fish that didn't workout in other tanks.
Wow, I forgot what this site is like.. this is such a pissing contest. Congrats to the OP on getting into the salt. I have been away from this site for some time but, I still love the hobby. Yes the damsils can be a pain in the but when it comes to adding new fish that is something to keep in mind, but it is also true to add slow. Let the tank set up and get stable. I would say once you are stable add some of the hardy corals first and one at a time. I would wait on the anemone, the trouble with them is that they will wonder around and not stay put. I have come across a number of people complaining that it walked around to the back of the display and they never get to see it.
Remember when you are dealing with a nano the tank is like a thimble of water, just one drop of bleach would effect it greatly, a tank that is over 75 g is like a bucket. Much harder to effect.
Remember when you are dealing with a nano the tank is like a thimble of water, just one drop of bleach would effect it greatly, a tank that is over 75 g is like a bucket. Much harder to effect.